Electrical switching apparatus



Jan. 14,1958 GfsEMos 2,820,124

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= Q '-6 INVENTOR. IJ Gebr-ge. Sen-fos ""ZAJMA United States Patent O i ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS George Semos, New York,N. Y.

Application July 15, 1955, Serial No. 522,227

2 Claims. (Cl. 20D-160) This invention relates to a novel electrical switching aparatus, more particularly a switching apparatus suitable for use as a telegraphers key in the transmission of code by conventional transmitting means.

Notwithstanding the rapid advances in the communications elds, there has still remained a need to employ telegraphic equipment for the transmission of messages by codes such as the Morse code. The transmission of code messages requires the services of a skilled operator who aside from a thorough knowledge of the code symbols must also possess training in manipulation of the transmitting apparatus. Such apparatus consists broadly speaking of a switch for the making and breaking of a circuit whereby the duration of an electrical impulse is varied to produce a series of intermittent signals, so called dots and dashes. This switch, known as a key, is pivotally mounted for rapid manipulation by an operator. When code communications are employed, it is thus apparent that the services of a skilled operator are necessary. In those situations as for example on board ship or in planes, in life boats or in an emergency where the service of the operator are made unavailable due to accident, illness, or the like, communications are cut off.

It is with the above problems in mind that the present construction has been evolved, a construction providing novel telegraphers key which requires no particular skill for its operation, and may be manipulated by anyone who can read to produce the requisite code signals.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide an improved electrical switch construction.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved electrical switching mechanism particularly adapted for the transmission of telegraphic code signals by conventional transmitting apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel telegraphic code key which facilitates the transmission of telegraphic codes.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved telegraphic key which may be operated by one not trained in the transmission of code.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved telegraphers key which requires no particular operational skills for the proper utilization thereof.

An object of this invention is also to provide a telegraphers key for use on ship and plane installations whereby the loss of services of a skilled radio operator does not leave the ship or plane without communication.

These and other objects of the invention which will be made most manifest and particularly pointed out in the following disclosure are achieved by provision of a mounting board having preferably four key levers supported thereon and adapted for depression through a lixed path. Two of these key levers are of a simple iirst class type fulcrumed between the point of application of the force and that of the load. The load end of each of the two key levers engages a cam surface on a spring pressed cam of insulating material mounted to extend 2,82),l24 Patented Jan. 14, 1958 from a contact lever pivotally supported on the mounting board adjacent said key lever. The relationship between the key lever and contact lever is such that depression of the key lever through its complete path of travel serves to depress the contact lever for a period of limited duration. At the end of the contact lever an electrical contact point is provided. In the path of motion of the contact point, a terminal element of an electrical circuit is provided. One of the aforementioned two key levers serves to bring one contact point into conta-ct directly with said terminal for a relatively short period of time. A spring is provided on the other terminal whereby the other contact point closes an electrical circuit formed between it and the terminalrfor a relatively long period of time. The remaining two of the aforementioned four levers are simple first class levers having their load ends spring biased each by a spring of different tensions. Contact points are provided at the ends of the latter levers. Utilization of the levers in a manner heretofore made more apparent will lserve to permit anyone to transmit the signals requisite for telegraphic communication.

The specific constructional details and their mode of employment will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing wherein:

Figure lrepresents a perspective view of the novel telegraphic keyboard.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1 illustrating the details of a key employed for transmitting a letter spacing signal.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3 3 of Figure 1 illustrating the constructional features of a key adapted for transmitting the dot signals of conventional telegraphic codes.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on line 4 4 of Figure 1 illustrating the structural details of a telegraphic key employed for the transmission of dash signals.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on line 5 5 of Figure 1 illustrating the details of a key employed for the transmission word space signals.

Figure 6 is a schematic view of a wiring diagram of the telegraphic key board illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in the various figures will be taken to designate like parts.

The novel telegraphic key apparatus 10 comprises a mounting board 11 preferably in the shape of an enclosed housing provided with apertures 12, 13, 14 and 15 through which key levers extend. Letter space key lever 16 having key 17 on is end extends out of the housing through aperture or slot l2. Dot key lever 18 extends through aperture or slot 13 and is provided at its outwardly extending end with key 19. Dash key lever 2t) having key or button 21 at its extremity extends through aperture 14.VV Word space lever 22 having key or button 23 extends from aperture or slot 15.

The dot-transmitting lever 18 shown in Figure 3 is pivoted intermediate its ends at 24 and carries a pin 25 at its outer end. `A spring 26 is attached to the lever 18 and to the casing and tends to press the lever 18 against a stop 27.

A lever 28 is pivoted intermediate its ends at 29 and carries upon one of its ends a slide 30 which may be engaged by the pin 25 of the lever 18. The slide 30 has a curved upper edge and is engaged by a spring 31 which is carried by the lever 28 and which tends to maintain the slide 30 in the position shown in full lines in Figure 3.

The opposite end of the lever 28 is connected with a spring 32 the other end of which is attached to the housing. The spring 32 tends to press the lever 28 against a stop 33. The same end of the lever 28` carries an electrical contact 34.

In the depressed position of the lever 1.8, which is shown by broken lines in Figure 3".. the. contatti 34 will engage a contact 35 which is adjustably mounted upon a support 36.

The dash transmitting mechanism shown in Figure 4 is similar to the one just describedand includes a pivot 37 carrying the lever 2,0 which is pressed by a spring 38 against a stop 39. Another lever 4G is pivoted at 4i and carries a slide 42 engaged by a spring 4 3. The lever 4@ is pressed by a spring 44 against a stop 45 and carries an electrical contact 46.

ln this device, however, the electrical Contact 47 which is adapted' to engage the contact 4'6 when the lever 2G' is depressed, has the form of a bent leaf spring which will remain in engagement with the Contact 46 for a lengthy time period. The contact 47' is adjustably mounted upon a support 48.

The letter spacing lever 16 shown in Figure 2' is pivoted at 49 and is pressed by a comparatively light tensioned spring Sti against a stop 51. A stop 52 limits the downward movement of the lever 16. ln its downward position the lever 16 will strike a bell 53 having a comparatively lighttone.

The word spacing device shown in Figure is of substantially the same construction and includes a pivot 54 and two stops 55 and 56 for the lever 22. A spring 57 which has stronger tension` than the spring- 50, presses the lever 22 against the stop 55. The lever 22 may strike a bell 58 which has a heavier tone than the bell 53.

The operationof the apparatus is as follows:

When an operator` desires to send out a dot signal, he pushes down the key 19. Then the lever-'18 will swing upon the pivot 24 and will raise the lever 28 due to the engagement of the pin carried by' the lever 18 with the lower straight edge of the slide 36. The` Contact 34 carried by the lever 28 will engage the Contact 35 and will also engage a contact 59 (Figure 6)-, thereby closing an electrical circuit which includes the wires 60. and 61, a source of electrical energy and the standard signalling jack (not shown).

As soon as the pin 252 has. moved beyond the position shown byy broken lines. in Figure 3, it will not engage. anymore the slide 30, so. that the spring 32 will pull the lever 28 back to the positionV shown in full lines in Figure 3, thereby interrupting the connection between theV Contact 34 on the one hand, and the contacts 35, and 5g on the other hand. It is4 thusI apparent'. that the duration of the electrical impulse is not dependent anymore to. any. substantial extent upon the. skill of the operator.

As soon as the operator releaseshis pressure upon the key i9, the spring 26 will pull the lever 18 back to its initial position; the pin 25 will ride upon the upper curved edge of the slide and will push the slide 3i?y to theright i (looking in the direction,v of Figure 3) untill the pin 25 reaches the lower edge of the slide 301., Then thev spring 31 will push the slide 30 back to its position shown in full lines in Figure 3.

When the operator desires to send ai dash signal',u he will depress the key 21 with theresulti thatA the piny 62; car,- ried` by the lever 20 and engaging the slide 42, will; swing the lever and will establish a connection between the electrical contact 46'011 the one hand, and the electrical contacts 47 and 63 on the other hand. This Will close the electrical circuit containing the Wires 60 and 61 (Figure 6) and an impulse will be emitted, however, due to the resiliency of the spring 47, the duration of the electrical connection will be longer and the signal will have the character of a dash signal.

As soon as the engagement between the pin 62 and the slide 42 is interrupted in the course of the upward movement of the pin 62, the spring 44 will pull the lever 4b back tor its original position.

As soon as pressure upon the key 21 is released, the spring 38 will pull back the lever tl and due to the provision of the spring 43 the slide 42 will yield to permit the pin 62 to assume its initial position shown in Figure 4.

When the operator has reached the end of a letter he is, instructed to depress. the key 17 until the bell 53 rings due to the action of the lever 16. This provides. the pause necessary for transmission purposes.

Similarly, when the, operator reaches the end of a word, he is told to depressv the key 23. Since the spring 5-7 is stronger than the spring 50, the time period until the bell 58 is rung,Y will be longer, providing the necessary spacing of the signals.

Ift is thus, apparent that by means of the described apparatus the, task of sending wireless and telegraphic messages has been simplified to any extent which makes it possible to use the apparatus by an entirely unskilled person.

The switch is used to short-circuit the negative and positive sides so, as to make continuous sound when it is left on the on position.

It is further apparent, that the illustrated apparatus has been described by way of illustration and not by way ot limitation and that it is subject to many variations and modifications. All such variations and modifications are tol be included' within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a code transmitting switch, a lever, a pivot carrying said lever intermediate its ends, a key upon one end of said lever,` a spring connected to the` other end of said lever, a stopl adapted to engage said other end of said lever, said spring pressing said other end of the lever against saidl stop, another lever, another pivot carrying said other lever intermediate its ends, a slide movably mounted upon one end or said other lever, another spring engaging said' slide, a pin carried by said other end of the first-mentioned lever and adapted to engage said siide, as thi-rd spring pressing saidl other end of the secondmentioned lever against said other stop, a conducting contact carried by said other end of the second-mentioned lever, andasignal-emitting contact adaptedA to be engaged byl the first-mentioned Contact while said key is being depressed.

2. A switch in accordance with claim l, within one of said contacts consists of an elongated resilient member, whereby a comparatively longcontact time period is providedi RnierencesCited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,002,267; Habermann Sept. 5, 19-11 

